And, let's just indulge ourselves for a minute and imagine you finally did manage to convince someone to like you. Do you really want to be with a person who's comfortable putting you through emotional hell?

Do you really want to date a person who couldn't see you for the awesome, fantastic human being you are right off the bat?

Let me answer that for you: No, you don't want that.

You deserve someone who makes you feel loved and supported, not like you're constantly trying to pass some sort of vague test.

Last year, my cousin said something that really stuck with me. She asked me why I always have such a guard up with the boys I like, and I explained to her how vulnerable I would feel if I didn't put those walls up.

Then, she told me to put myself in the shoes of the boy I was seeing at the time. She said to imagine what it must feel like to have those feelings for someone, only for that person to show no indication of liking you back.

And to be honest, it would feel absolutely horrible. Putting anyone through that just to spare your own feelings is pretty selfish.